Universal Music Group is sueing Myspace for copyright infringement.
The owners of the site have “made infringement free and easy, turning MySpace videos into a vast virtual warehouse for pirated copies of music videos and songs,” the complaint says. They use “extensive efforts to encourage members to upload pirated videos to MySpace servers.” The site reportedly has more than 50 million unique visitors per month and more than 200,000 new registrations each day.
The complaint includes an example of a MySpace page showing a pirated video of “Beautiful Day” by UMG artist U2. It was viewed more than 2,000 times according to the site, the suit says.
“Businesses that seek to trade off on our content, and the hard work of our artists and songwriters, shouldn’t be free to do so without permission and without fairly compensating the content creators,” a UMPG spokesperson said in a statement. “Our music and videos play a key role in building the communities that have created hundreds of millions of dollars of value for the owners of MySpace. Our goal is not to inhibit the creation of these communities, but to ensure that our rights and those of our artists are recognized.”
The suit, filed in the federal District Court in Los Angeles, includes claims for direct copyright infringement, secondary copyright infringement and deceptive business practices.
Check out unsigned South Carolina act Leslie a three piece rock act in the lines of Jet, The Who, Wolfmother. Currently getting some spins for their song “Sick” on 96.1 WAVF – program director Dave Rossi is a huge fan. Performed on Nov 1 @ Sin-E in NY, NY for the ASCAP showcase for CMJ and in October @ Atlantis Music Conference. Touring the southeast for the remainder of the Fall and into the Spring. Have toured with Blue Dogs, Will Hoge, Limbeck, and Valient Thorr among others. Just recorded 3 new songs with Eric Bass (The Working Title, Tyler Read) that are available for free download at www.myspace.com/leslierock.
Upcoming hometown show on Nov 18 @ Windjammer in Charleston, SC (show is sponsored by 96.1 WAVF). For more information contact manager Josh Terry -864.907.9523 or or Legal Reid Hunter – 212.245.7300.
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Too late to win back listeners, many kids tuned out and too late to win them back. It’s amazing Clear Channel didn’t see the brick wall, so instead they ran into it head first.
Check out the new track Always Something from California alternative band
I Hate Kate. For more information contact Justin Maximov.